Rising YouTube star Scooter Magruder sounds off on life, sports and holidays in popular videos

In a YouTube video titled "Things I Hate about Thanksgiving," a fast-talking Cameron "Scooter" Magruder trashes Turkey Day and the events that surround it.

"It's turned into getting into line early to get a $40 television," Magruder says.

He sounds off about college-rivalry football games, holiday traffic, that professor who insists on holding class before vacation and the huge amount of food his aunt prepares for dinner.

"I don't want to be eating Thanksgiving leftovers in March," he says.

Viewed more than 12,000 times, the holiday video is just one of more than 80 in Magruder's growing library of YouTube productions.

In a little more than a year, Magruder, an Orlando native, has become a YouTube star. His videos have generated 4.5 million views, including more than 800,000 for his most popular title, "Top 100 First World Problems."

"I get to say and create whatever it is I want to do without anyone saying "You can't do that,' " said Magruder, 23.

And although other Orlando YouTube personalities may have more subscribers and total video views, few have achieved Magruder's level of success in such a short time.

This year he was named a YouTube Next Vlogger, an award given to select video bloggers, or vloggers, to cultivate their skills on the video-sharing site. He received $5,000 in camera equipment and $10,000 in promotional ads.

Magruder spends most days writing, editing, shooting, starring in and promoting his videos. And he receives a monthly check — based on views — from YouTube.

"I am barely making it, but I am making it," he said.

Magruder attended Dr. Phillips High School and graduated with degree in telecommunication production from the University of Florida. But after graduation, he couldn't see himself in a regular 9-to-5 job. He needed something creative, and he'd seen others succeed on YouTube.

In most of Magruder's videos, he talks directly to the camera. His work is fast-paced and filled with pop-culture references and humor — all without vulgarities.

"Something about him makes you want to smile," said his dad, Charles Magruder.

In one of his sports videos, called "Stuff Gator Fans Say," he spends much of the time making fun of Florida State University. "What's the difference between a hippopotamus and a FSU cheerleader?" he asks. "About 17 pounds."

Making videos for a living seemed risky, his father said at the beginning. However, both Magruder's dad and his mom, Jerrie Magruder, have been supportive, allowing him to live in their Dr. Phillips home while he works on the videos.

"Try it and see," Charles told his son. "That's all you can do."

Magruder declined to say how much he makes, but the New York Times Magazine reported earlier this year that a YouTube personality with 125,000 subscribers and 2 million views a month can earn up to $4,000 a month.

Magruder's videos aren't that popular yet. But he did gain a lot of fans when "First World Problems" — based on a popular meme that refers to insignificant issues in developed countries — went viral.